National Tsing Hua University

Midterm Examination
for

11010 PME 534200

ADVANCED MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS

Time allowed: Starting: 08:00 AM, November 5, 2021

Ending: 11:00 AM, November 5, 2021

Location: National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Answer ALL questions, No discussion

Each student is allowed to bring two A4 double-sided hand written notes (total 4 pages) for the exam and hand in the A4
sheets along with the exam paper.

Point Allocations

Number of Questions Total Points Points Scored

Problem 1 2 20
Problem 2 2 15
Problem 3 2 20
Problem 4 4 20

Problem 5 4 25
Total 100

Student name (please print): _______________________________ I D#:_________________

This is an in-class open-book, lecture notes exam. The work that I am submitting is entirely my own. I have
not discussed the subject matter of this exam with anyone. I have abided by the University’s policy on
academic integrity.

Student’s signature: ____________________________________ Date: _________________

Prof. Jen-Yuan (James) Chang ❖ PME, NTHU ❖ Email: jychang@pme.nthu.edu.tw

Telephone: +886-03-574-2498 ❖ Office: Engineering Building I – R509
1. Derive the equations of motion of the following system by using (1) Newtonian approach
(10 pts) and by using the (2) Lagrangian approach (10 pts). Write down the mass and
stiffness matrices.

2. Find the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the system to in the right. (1) Determine
the responses x1 and x2 subject to rest initial conditions and an impulse load F=Fo (t) (10
pts). (2) Interpret and discuss the results (5 pts).

3. (1) Find the steady state response of the system below (excluding
gravitational force) to the force F1(t) (10 pts). (2) Plot the response
amplitudes of x1 and x2 versus excitation frequency on carefully
drawn and labelled graphs. (10 pts)

4. For each of the systems as shown below, please derive the equation of motion and the
boundary conditions. If you can write down the equation of motion by inspection, then do
so with only a brief explanation. In all cases, derive the boundary conditions through the
infinitesimal element approach, and show free body diagrams of the boundary elements.
(5 pts each, total 20 pts)
1) Longitudinal vibration of a rod, with one end resting on a viscoelastic base, and the other
end being free.
2) Transverse vibration of a chain hanging straight down under gravity, with the top end
fixed and the bottom end free. Here you will need to think carefully about the equation
of motion.

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 3) Euler-Bernoulli beam with a rigid body of mass M at one end. Make the calculation for
both the cases of (i) negligible rotational inertia of the end mass, and (ii) finite rotational
inertia J.
4) Euler-Bernoulli beam with each end elastically restrained in translation and in rotation.
This model represents a “clamped” boundary with compliance.

5. For the double pendulum system shown below, derive the non-linear equations of motion for
which q1 and q2 can be arbitrarily large by using (1) the Newtonian approach (5 pts) and (2) the
Lagrangian approach (5 pts). (3) Show that the solution q1=0 and q2=0 satisfies the
equilibrium condition. Linearize the equations of motion about this point. Write the equations
of motion in terms of the mass M and stiffness K matrices, and show that K is positive definite.
(10 pts) (4) Linearize about another equilibrium point, and discuss the definiteness of K in that
case. (5 pts)

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